Toni Collette & Monica Bellucci to star in Catherine Hardwicke’s Mafia Mamma comedy

Toni Collette (Knives Out, Hereditary) and Monica Bellucci (Spectre, The Matrix) are stepping out while wearing cement shoes after signing on for Catherine Hardwicke’s Mafia Mamma comedy film. The project also stars Rob Huebel (Bob’s Burgers, The Goldbergs) with Cornerstone looking to sell at next month’s virtual American Film Market.

According to Deadline, the Twilight director’s Mafia Mamma comedy revolves around a suburban American woman who inherits her grandfather’s Mafia empire, and guided by the Firm’s trusted consigliere defies everyone’s expectations, including her own, as the new head of the family business.

Debbie Jhoon and Michael J. Feldman wrote the screenplay, and production is scheduled to begin late spring 2022 in Italy.

“I couldn’t be more excited to make this film with Catherine and the team,” said Collette. “It is pure, fish out of water fun with a firm feminist backbone. I think we could all handle an uplifting, laugh out loud story like this right about now. Bring it on Italy!”

Catherine Hardwicke responded: “Toni is one of the most versatile actresses on the planet – she can be intensely emotional, super- sexy and LOL hilarious. She’s going to dazzle as Kristin. And I personally relate to this woman who has to tap into her inner warrior and earn the respect of a bunch of men – especially after working in the film business. This story is empowering in the most fun way!”

It sounds like Collette is enthusiastic about packing her bags for Italy, and who could blame her? I think a lot of us could use a change of scenery right about now, eh? It also sounds like she and Hardwicke are cut from the same cloth when it comes to wanting to make a movie with a strong feminist edge. I hope the script for Hardwicke’s Mafia Mamma comedy is as sharp as the women mentioned in this article, otherwise, someone could end up sleeping with the fishes, see?

Toni Collette recently wrapped her role as Zeena Krumbein for Guillermo del Toro’s Nightmare Alley. In the film, an ambitious carny with a talent for manipulating people with a few well-chosen words hooks up with a female psychiatrist who is even more dangerous than he is. Rooney Mara, Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Willen Dafoe, Ron Perlman, Holt McCallany, and Time Blake Nelson also star.